General Vole Questions

Q. When are voles a problem?

A. Voles attack landscaping. They destroy root systems of flowers, shrubs, vegetables and trees. They kill beautiful and expensive trees by girdling them, eating away all bark in a continuous ring around the trunk. This deprives the tree of water and nutrients and the tree dies. Voles have adapted very well to the way humans choose to take care of yards, gardens, golf courses and flower beds. Your landscaping becomes the vole salad buffet!

Q. Why did the voles pick my yard?

A. Voles are first attracted to a property because of the exterior. Landscaping with long grass, lots of ground cover and heavily mulched planting beds are very desirable. Weeds or unmaintained areas can also attract voles. When grass or crops are left long in the fall and then covered by snow, winter damage is common.

Q. Why do I need to get rid of voles?

A. Voles multiply rapidly. A single female can have 10 litters per year with 3-5 young per litter. Vole populations have natural cycles of 3-5 years and during peak times the population amounts to an invasion. It is highly unlikely that you have A VOLE problem, more likely it is MANY voles.

Voles destroy landscaping, killing as much as 50% of a lawn over a winter. They will also destroy flower beds (tulip bulbs are a particular favorite), girdle (kill by eating away all bark in a ring around the trunk) fruit trees, and kill vegetable gardens from the roots up. Voles can eat away so many roots that a large tree will die or suddenly fall over without warning because it is deprived of its anchoring support.

Voles bring with them diseases and insects common to rodents. You don't want to be overrun with fleas, ticks and lice along with the voles.

Q. When do voles infest suburban areas?

A. During droughts, in particular, voles move to town. They come into the well-watered lawns, gardens and golf courses. Thirst draws them in. When the drought weakens, though, they don't move out. They are now happy and well fed and well watered and their populations explode. Whole neighborhoods can become infested on an almost Biblical scale.

Q. When is the best time to get rid of voles?

A. You need to get rid of voles at the very first sign of their presence. Voles form huge colonies. Quick maturity and a staggering birth rate (over 70 young per female per year) mean that they multiply seemingly overnight. Get rid of them quickly or be overrun.

Q. Where do voles live?

A. In general, voles live underground anywhere there is enough food and water. Voles occupy a large area of the planet, including most of North America. Different species of vole have different preferences, but a number of species have given up hollow logs for urban landscaping as they enjoy the lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables. Low growing shrubs and ground cover plants also provide shelter for voles. They are comfortable and safe under concrete slabs.

Q. Where do voles usually enter a building?

A. Voles very rarely enter buildings. They will sometimes end up inside a building by accident when they have nested under a deck or patio, but they do not seek out indoor dwellings.

Q. How do I know if the rodents on my property are voles?

A. Voles are often confused with both mice and moles, but have distinct habits that distinguish them from both. Voles do not hibernate and are diurnal (active during the day). They have smaller eyes, smaller ears and shorter tails than mice. They are much smaller than moles with blunt noses and have brown or rust colored fur, rather than black fur and long noses like moles.

They create trails that resemble a road map in the grass. It is a hollow, dished out trench rather than a raised mound of dirt (moles, again). You will also find small holes about the size of a thumb in the turf. When snow melts in the spring you may find a bundle of grass about the size of a baseball. This ball of grass is a vole nest.

Voles create their own style of landscape damage. Voles chew plants and bulbs, grasses and roots. They destroy turf from the bottom up, making trails and having a snack at the same time. Moles, on the other hand, are mostly carnivorous, eating worms, spiders and insects.

If you see damaged trees with small gnawing marks at their base and losing large quantities of turf to odd trails in the ground, especially if the damage occurred under snow and only becomes visible in the spring, you have voles!

Q. Where can I get help with my vole problem?

A. Call us. We are Allstate Vole Control and offer extensive vole removal. Our trained technicians can help you get rid of the voles and protect your landscaping.

Health & Safety

Q. What are the most common vole complaints you receive?

A. Voles destroy lawns and girdle fruit and nut trees. Voles shred turf to the surface of the dirt and leave all the clipping lying around. Voles cause trees to die and fall, which is expensive and dangerous, by eating all the roots.

Q. What are the health risks of having voles on my property?

A. Voles host fleas, ticks and lice which can transmit the Plague, babesiosis, Lyme disease, giardia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The voles themselves can transmit tularemia and rabies. You should be especially careful of voles that behave unusually. Do not attempt to capture a vole by hand. Take precautions when handling vole feces or urine or their carcasses. Wear gloves and masks. Carcasses should be disposed of according to regulations applicable in your area-usually burning is the safest method.

Q. Will the voles attack me?

A. Leave the voles alone and they will leave you alone. If you pick one up, it will bite. If one allows you to pick it up, it is probably ill, so be very careful.

Q. Who is responsible for this vole problem?

A. Drought is responsible for the voles moving in and now you have to deal with it. It may not seem fair, but the property owner is responsible. Voles are considered pest wildlife and are not the responsibility of government agencies. Likewise, exterminators who are accustomed to dealing with cockroaches probably won't be much help. Call wildlife removal professionals for assistance. Allstate Vole Control is experienced and will do the job right.

Animal Control Products and Methods

A. A few poisons are available for voles but require a pesticide applicator certification or license for use.

Q. Which vole repellents are the best?

A. There are no generally available chemical repellents that are long-term and effective. Don't rely on repellents alone.

Q. Which methods do you use to exterminate voles?

A. We use special vole poisons. Different poisons can be distributed in a variety of ways to maximize effectiveness and minimize danger to humans, pets or desirable wildlife. The voles usually die underground and are never seen again.

Q. Which methods do you use to get rid of voles?

A. We typically use poison to get rid of voles. Our methods depend on the species of vole, the terrain involved, whether or not they are in a structure and a variety of other factors. Of the 23 species of vole present in the United States, 8 cause the majority of damage. Each of these eight species has unique features that must be considered. We can also use habitat modification and barriers.

Q. Who should I call for help?

A. Call Allstate Vole Control . We are experienced and knowledgeable and available nationwide. We can help you get rid of voles.

Q. Why should I hire a professional to get rid of voles?

A. Professionals are licensed to poison the voles and get rid of the whole colony. We provide an inspection of your property to determine the entire extent of the vole infestation. We create a complete control plan, tailored to your unique needs. We will eliminate voles, outside and inside, if necessary, and give suggestions and supply products to help you avoid future infestations.

Property Damage

Q. What damage can voles cause?

A. People notice that plants and grasses start to die. The roots have been eaten. Vegetable gardens die in rows as the roots are destroyed. The damage continues into the winter as snow provides cover and your turf is eaten away in sunken, road map-like paths and trees can be girdled as their bark is eaten away-cutting off circulation of moisture and nutrients.

Q. What is this going to do to my property value?

A. Voles can destroy 100% of your prize tulips and other bulb plants. They can kill all your fruit tress and over 50% of a turf lawn in a single winter. Depending on the pride and care you take with your landscaping, the damage can be severe.

Q. What can a wildlife removal technician do about the voles in my yard?

A. Your technician will design a custom plan just for your situation that will involve a combination of poisons, barriers, fencing, deterrents and habitat modification. After the voles are gone, your technician will clean up and provide suggestions for avoiding future infestations. Neighborhood efforts are suggested because infestations of voles usually overrun whole neighborhoods. We can help educate your neighbors and coordinate efforts to truly leave you vole free.

Costs

Q. What does it cost for an initial over-the-phone vole control consultation?

A. FREE! Send me 5-10 pictures via e-mail and I will review them and call you to recommend a solution and give you an estimate. Pictures should include suspected vole damage, trails, or any other signs of a vole invasion you think might be important.

Q. Who pays for my vole problem?

A. Unfortunately, if you own the property you own the voles, too. Vole removal starts with an inspection and evaluation which costs $150-250, depending on your location. You may want to contact your property insurance carrier; your policy may include coverage for removal and clean up of pest animals.

Q. What FREE vole control services does your company offer?

A. If you suspect you have a vole problem on your property, take 5-10 digital pictures and e-mail them to us (use the Contact Us page). We will call you and discuss your situation over the phone for a few minutes to suggest a plan of action, as time allows.

Q. How much will it cost to get rid of the voles?

A. We customize each job to your particular situation. Prices vary depending on your location, number of animals and severity of the infestation. I can give you a FREE estimate over the phone using digital pictures you e-mail me. For additional information, see our Pricing Page